Part 16-1
“Furthermore, Subhuti, even if good men and good women accept and hold and read and recite this sutra, if they are slighted by others, those people should have fallen into miserable ways because of their misdeeds in former times; but because of being slighted by others in the present, the misdeeds of former times are thereby erased, and they will attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment.”
Commentary:
In the preceding parts, a lot was mentioned regarding what this Sutra is and how to hold and recite it, and how this Sutra signifies the true-Self. Everything, including ourselves, is this Sutra, and every sound is a four-line verse.
However, interpreting the Sutra literally, if someone, now deluded by words and forms, thinks of this Sutra as a physical Sutra that is written, or printed, keeps and reads it, he will also be able to escape from all illusions and attain enlightenment later, even if he struggles with suffering now.
To conclude, it’s up to you who are reading this Sutra whether you enjoy the merit of holding this Sutra at this moment, or later. As mentioned in the beginning, each word is a gate to the Pure land, or the function of the true-Self. If you can see the true-Self in each word now, you are already in the Pure land. If you can’t, you will be there, sooner or later, according to how hard you try.
Student: “According to the preceding parts, the merit of accepting and holding and reading and reciting this Sutra is so immense as to be beyond description. How can being slighted happen to those who keep and read this Sutra?”
Master: “The best medicine works as well as it should when a patient takes it as he is told to.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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